U.S. Border Patrol agents trained as emergency medical technicians demonstrate medical and rescue equipment to show how they provide care to migrants found in distress in the deserts and mountains of West Texas. Photo courtesy of Border Patrol.

MARFA –– U.S. Border Patrol Big Bend Sector conducted its border safety event June 28 in Marfa. The event highlighted how binational cooperation between the United States and Mexico and new rescue beacon technology is increasing humanitarian rescues and reducing the deaths of migrants who are often abandoned to die by criminal smugglers in West Texas.

According to the Border Patrol, migrant deaths, which previously numbered 30 to 40 per year in the deserts and mountains of West Texas, have been reduced to six in fiscal year 2023, and five so far in fiscal year 2024. Fifty-six migrants were rescued in fiscal year 2023, and 22 so far in fiscal year 2024.